Ear-muff.



J. B. FASSLER.

BAR MUFF.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.29,*1909.

Patented June 21 1910.-

2 SHEETS-:SHBET 1.

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EAR MUFF. APPLICATI'ON FILED DEC. 29, 1909.

961,765, Patentenl June 21,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

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EAR-'VIUFF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 29, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

Serial No. 535,511.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. FASSLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVard, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ear-Muffs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ear muffs, the object of the invention being to provide an improved device of this character which may be adjusted to fit any size of head, and which may be comfortably worn and securely hold the ear muffs in position over the cars.

A further object is to provide improved ear muffs which may be folded and locked so as to occupy but a small space in a box or in the pocket of the user. WVith these and other objects in view the lnvention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating one way that the ear muffs may be worn. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the ear muffs in different position with relation to the spring bands. Fig. 4 is a view showing the ear muffs in the first position preparatory to folding. Fig. 5 is a view of the folded ear muffs. Fig. 6 is a view of the wire frame and its connection with the spring band. Fig. 7 is a View in section on the line 77 of Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a detailed perspec tive view of the fastener 9.

1, 1, represent the ear muffs, both of which comprise an elliptical wire frame 2,. over which woven fabric preferably lined, is secured, forming a bulging pocket-like covering adapted to be placed over the ears against the side of the head, and of a size sufficient to accommodate any ordinary ears. Each of these wire frames 2 are bent inward as shown at 3 and form journals 4, preferably flattened at one side and around which spring metal clips 5 are positioned and connected by a rivet 6 with a spring band 7, it being understood that the clip 5 comprises a band of sheet metal which is positioned on opposite sides of the spring band and the rivet 6 serves as a pivot enabling the ear muffs to be swung around at an angle with relation to the spring band.

Each of these spring bands 7 is provided at its end with a metal loop 8, secured to the end of the band and sliding freely on the band 7 of the other ear muff, so that these bands may be moved longitudinally with relation to each other in either direction to lengthen or shorten the spring connection between the ear muffs.

The device may be worn as shown in Fig. 1, with the spring bands extending across the head and the ear muffs over the ears, or it may be worn with the spring band at the back of the head and the ear muffs at an angle with the bands as shown in Fig. 3, and owing to the fact that the journals 4L above referred to, are flattened out at one side, the spring clips 5 will cause these ear muffs to normally maintain the proper angular position with relation to the spring band.

When the ear muffs are removed and put away, the spring bands 7 are first adjusted to shorten them, and then the ear mufis are swung in on the journals 4 in the position shown in Fig. 4. Then the ear muffs are moved together against the action of the spring band 7, which movement will cause the spring bands to slide slightly with relation to each other, and the device may in this position, be held in a box or in any suitable receptacle. However, I prefer to provide on one ear mufi, a fastener 9, which is secured to a metal band 10 on one bent portion 3 of a wire frame 2, which is preferably of sheet metal secured by rivet-s to one of the clips 5 and bent as shown, so that when the ear muffs are moved together, it will spring over the frame of the other muff and securely hold the muffs in position as shown in Fig. 5, thus enabling the device to be carried in the pocket without a box if desired.

It will thus be seen that with my improvements, when the ear muffs are not desired for use, they may be folded into small space and carried conveniently in the pocket, and when desired may be readily opened out and adjusted to exactly fit the head, and may be worn either with the spring bands extending across the top of the head, or around the back of the head. By reason of this adjustable feature, the ear muffs will fit any size of head, and it is therefore not necessary' to make the device in various sizes.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not restrict myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The combination with two ear muffs, comprising wire frames and flexible material on each frame, of spring bands having sliding relation to each other, inwardly bent portions on said wire frames forming journals, metal clips on said journals and pivotally 

